Alberta Finance Minister Ted Morton resigned from Alberta’s Conservative cabinet Thursday — two days after Premier Ed Stelmach announced he would not seek re-election.

Sources close to the government say Mr. Morton did not want to deliver the government’s 2011-12 budget during the spring session, slated to begin Feb. 22.

The budget called for government to draw on savings to maintain social services and infrastructure investment, breaking the government’s promise to balance the budget this year.

Sources say Mr. Morton would only support a balanced budget.

Mr. Morton will continue in his job as an elected MLA. He has not said whether he expects to run for leadership of the Progressive Conservative party, but ministers are typically expected to resign from cabinet before doing so.

Morton, Stelmach and Treasury Board president Lloyd Snelgrove were expected to speak with reporters in Calgary Thursday afternoon.